Adjustable envelop.



m. s34,||5. Patented on. 3, I899.

w. m. LAMBERT.

ADJUSTABLE EN-VELOP.

(Applinatinn filed July 2, 1898."

{No Model.)

TH! W mm co. mum. 04mm. ca I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MORRIS LAMBERT, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

'- ADJUSTABLE ENVELO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. oeanraaatea October 3, 1899.

Application filed July 2, 1898. Serial No. 685,050. lNo model.-

To add whom it may concern. 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MORRIS LAM BERT, of New York city, borough of Manhattan, county andSt'ate of'NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Envelops, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whereiny Figure 1 is a front elevation of myimproved adjustable envelop open with the closing-band unfolded; Fig; 2, a reverse view of the same envelop filled and closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the same envelop reduced in size and closed. Figs. 4 to 9 are top and sec tional views, respectively, showing different ways of affixing the band to the flap of the envelop. a 7

My invention relates to envelops, mainly such as are used for keeping and mailing of samples, seeds, and such merchandise as is usually transmitted by mail; and it consists of the hereinafter-described adjustable envelop combined with a fastener suitable to secure the flap upon the envelop and hold it closed securely without regard to any reduction in size of the envelop or to its changed-shape gral with the body A of the envelop and adapted to be folded upon it, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby the orifice of the envelop is closed. FlapB is held in closed position by band C, affixed thereto by an eyelet c or by other means, as will be explained hereinafter, which band is folded around the body of the envelop and then fastened by threading its end f through the eye 6 and then bending it over, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Band C is made of thin non-elastic metal and when thus folded and tied will hold. the envelop safely closed and permit its repeated use without regard whether its size or shape is changed in such use or not.

In mailing of articles of merchandise theenvelop should fit the contents to prevent their being damaged from joggling. exactly-fitting envelopsare not always handy, and for this reason it is desirable that a larger envelop may be readily reduced in size to fit the article to be i'nclosed therein. This cannot be done with any of the envelope heretofore known without reconstructing thesame or so distorting its parts that the fastening device'cannot be used.

My improved adjustable envelop can be reduced both in length and width by folding as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and may then be closed by fastening the flap to the body of the envelop in the same manner as before. Band C may also be affixed detachably to the flap B of the envelop in the manner shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings. The band shown in- Figs. 6 and 7 ma uniformly wide strip. To secure this band to. the flap, a hole cl is made in the flap and an eyelet pressed in. The band C is then folded and the fold passed through the eyelet and flattened, as shown in Fig. 7. The head thus formed, will prevent withdrawing of the band C and hold it securely in place.

The method illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 requires the band C to be made with a hole in a similar manner as shown in Fig. 4. The flap B is provided with an eyelet-hole, and a fastener 72. is used, as shown, to attach the band to it. These methods for attaching the band to the flap permit the making of the envelops and bands independently of each other to better facilitate their packing, though the manner shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, where the bandis permanently affixed to the envelop, is the preferable form. The band C is then folded around the envelop, as shown in Fig. 3; but its endfis not inserted in the eye e nor bent.

Fig. 2 ofthe drawings shows how the band C holds the flap B in position, closing the envelop. The tension upon the band causes it to slightly deviate from a straight line, where by its circumference is shortened and the edges. drawn in more tightly upon the edges of the envelop. Thus theenvelop may be filled'to its utmost capacity unfastened while in transit, wherein my invention possesses with fixed clasping or other fastening de-.

vices.

I claim as my invention- 1. An envelop-fastener comprising a nonelastic metallic band, having an eye on one end and a tail, adapted to engage with the eye, on the other end, and a pivotal fastening device for securing the band to the flap of an envelop as herein shown and described.

2. The combination with an envelop of a non-elastic metallic band having an eye on one end and a tail adapted to engage with the eye on the other end, and of a pivotal fastening device for securing the band to the flap of the envelop.

"WILLIAM MORRIS LAMBERT.

WVitnesses:

ROBERT VALENTINE DIAIIHEXVS, HARRY CALHOUN. 

